As Negroni Week returns, we raise a glass to the Italian classic cocktail that has spent more than a century balancing tradition with reinvention.
Few cocktails have the staying power of the Negroni. More than a century after its creation, the unmistakable combination of gin, bitter aperitif, and sweet vermouth continues to inspire bartenders and cocktail lovers around the world.
But when a cocktail is built around just a handful of ingredients, every element has a role to play – and small changes can have a surprisingly significant impact on the final drink.
That is where bitters come in.
A few dashes of ANGOSTURA® orange bitters bring a vibrant lift to the Negroni, infusing the classic serve with a burst of citrus and subtle spice. The bitters’ lively orange essence enhances the harmony of gin, sweet vermouth, and Campari, adding warmth and depth that make every sip glow with celebration. It’s a spirited twist that captures the essence of Negroni Week- timeless, balanced, and beautifully bold.
It is a small addition, but one that can make a noticeable difference.
The beauty is in the balance
The Negroni works because its ingredients bring contrasting characteristics to the glass. Gin provides its botanical backbone, sweet vermouth contributes richness and sweetness, and the bitter aperitif brings the unmistakable bittersweet character that defines the cocktail.
Orange bitters add another dimension to that equation. Rather than changing what makes a Negroni a Negroni, they can accentuate its existing character and introduce a little more depth to the overall drinking experience.
And perhaps that is why the Negroni continues to invite experimentation. Change the gin, explore different vermouths, play with the garnish or adjust the dilution – there is room to put a personal spin on the classic without losing its identity.
“Classic cocktails give us a framework, but they also give us room to experiment” says ANGOSTURA Ambassador. “With a Negroni, the balance between bitter, sweet and botanical flavours is what makes it work. A few dashes of ANGOSTURA® orange bitters can highlight those existing characteristics and bring a fresh feel to a familiar serve”.
This Negroni Week, that makes the cocktail worth revisiting. Whether enjoyed at a favourite local bar or mixed at home, it is a reminder that great cocktails do not necessarily need complicated techniques or endless ingredients. Sometimes, it is about understanding what each ingredient brings to the glass and knowing when one more dash is enough.
For more information, recipes and useful content, follow Angostura South Africa on Facebook /Angostura South Africa and Instagram @AngosturaZA.
Ashli Prins
Paddington Station PR
021 447 0564
On behalf of:
Kgalaletso Dithejane
DGB (Pty) Ltd
011 653 1000
About ANGOSTURA® bitters
Recognised over the centuries by the granting of Royal Warrants of Appointment to the royal households of Great Britain, Prussia, Spain and Sweden, ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters at the size of 200ml is the world’s market leader, an essential ingredient in premium cocktails, and a mainstay of cocktail culture. ANGOSTURA® orange bitters at the size of 100ml was launched in 2007 and is made from its own special recipe, with a complex blend of tropical oranges and spices. ANGOSTURA® cocoa bitters at the size of 100ml uses the world’s finest Trinitario cocoa from Trinidad and Tobago creating a sensory fusion that, after years of nurturing, brings superior flavour to the hands of bartenders, chefs and at-home connoisseurs.
The proud history of the House of ANGOSTURA® began almost two hundred years ago in 1824, when founder Dr. Johann Siegert first produced aromatic bitters in the city of Angostura in Venezuela. Now the three ANGOSTURA® Bitters can be found in shops such as Norman Goodfellows, Pick n Pay Liquors, Makro and more.
